Phoenix City Council race: Williams, Valenzuela surge

Incumbent Thelda Williams and political newcomer Daniel Valenzuela appeared headed to victory in Tuesday's runoff election to secure seats on the Phoenix City Council.

Valenzuela's opponent, Brenda Sperduti, conceded the race late Tuesday after early, unofficial results showed Valenzuela with a comfortable lead in the District 5 race.

Williams was cautious about declaring victory, though the results showed she also was ahead by a comfortable margin over challenger Eric Frederick in the District 1 runoff.

"I had a lot of people working for me," Williams said, adding that she had decided to run an aggressive campaign.

Valenzuela, who will replace outgoing council member Claude Mattox, credited a grass-roots campaign for getting his message to voters.

In the final days leading to Tuesday's election for the Phoenix City Council, political newcomers Sperduti and Valenzuela were divided as to whether his role as a Glendale firefighter would interfere in representing District 5.

In District 1, Frederick criticized Williams as a career politician. Williams, who has served about 10 years on and off the council since 1986, says she still has work to do.

Sperduti, 54, argued that Valenzuela would be too busy to handle both roles.

"It seems people agree with me. They don't understand why he would want to go to the City Council and continue his job, one that is supposed to be quite demanding," she said. "They're concerned about him having enough time to represent them."

Valenzuela has been adamant that his job isn't of concern. He said he thinks the issue has come up not because of his work but because he is a firefighter and member of a union.

Valenzuela, 36, said he "will never apologize for being a firefighter." He said he hasn't heard from residents in the district questioning his ability to do his job and serve on the council. "What they're interested in is change. They are looking for something besides what we've had at City Hall. They want to get away from the status quo and the candidate who can bring change with a moderate voice."

Valenzuela expressed thanks to those who came out to walk the district for his campaign.

The candidates are in agreement on many of their priorities. Both want to tackled blight and graffiti that continues a problem for the district, which includes west and northwest Phoenix.

Both Sperduti and Valenzuela want to help boost the number of small businesses but also help those up and going. They also want to reduce crime and expand light rail to their part of town.

Williams, 70, is wrapping up a four-year term on the council. She served a two-year and a four-year term between 1986 and 1996.

Williams said she focused her campaign on safe neighborhoods and responsible government. Not long after being forced into the runoff, she publicly called for an early repeal of the city's food tax by next July instead of keeping it in place until its scheduled expiration in 2015.

Frederick, 35, an insurance agent, is a former member of the Deer Valley Planning Committee. He is a member of the West Phoenix Revitalization Community Advisory Board and the Maryvale Revitalization Corp.'s secretary.

Frederick's message centered on creating jobs in the Valley, no new taxes, ensuring the government lived within its means.